Anyone able to identify this well worn saint?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Finn
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
F

Finn

Guest
A family member is wondering about the identity of this brass saint. The cross could either be a long cross or sword and he holds what is probably a book in his right hand. Any takers?

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
Last edited:
It could also possibly be St Philip.
The cross and book

Another symbol of St Philip the Apostle is a long cross or a staff with a small cross on it. Such crosses appear on the wall of our building and in the grounds.

The staff/cross of St Philip is also seen in works of art depicting the apostle, as in these details from works by Dürer and by de la Tour. Philip is sometimes shown also holding the book of the gospels, from which to proclaim the faith, as in Dürer’s picture , at left.
source: http://stphilipsoconnor.org.au/saint_philip_symbols.php
 
A family member is wondering about the identity of this brass saint. The cross could either be a long cross or sword and he holds what is probably a book in his right hand. Any takers?

It looks like a staff and lantern to me. It then could be St. Joseph.
 
My guess is also St. Paul. It looks somewhat like a statue in a church in my city.
 
Do you reckon it could be a statue of a Crusader? There seems to be a dogleg between the upper part of the cross and the lower part.
 
My first impression is that it looks like St. John Vianney.

Maybe it’s so well worn because it went to so many confessions. 😇
 
I agree with @tad. The depiction of the head and hair looks like the conventional representation of St. Jean-Marie Vianney, the Curé d’Ars. The trouble is I’ve never seen him associated with a lantern.

On the other hand, St. Joseph is quite often shown holding a lantern, but apart from that, your statue doesn’t look much like him.

Is the lantern used as a symbol in connection with any other saints? That might be a good place to start, think.
 
Last edited:
You could be right. It could be a lantern. It doesn’t look completely like a book.
 
You could be right. It could be a lantern. It doesn’t look completely like a book.
@Finn, I think we have the answer to your question. It looks as though I was wrong about the lantern, which is in fact used as a symbol in connecton with the Curé d’Ars, in an allusion to his habit of sleeping only two hours every night and starting his day at one o’clock in the morning, hearing confessions in his parish church:
  • Fr. Vianney eventually had to start his day at one o’clock in the morning when his lantern would promptly appear as he made his way to the church. Meanwhile, the crowds “harassed and dejected” were even at that hour ready and waiting to hear words of hope or kindly warning, and words of absolution and healing that only a priest can bring.
 
Interesting… thank you. Tend to agree with your earlier post though, as I haven’t been able to find any visual depictions of him holding a lantern.
 
I was going strictly from my first visual impressions. Between the hair and the baggy dress, it reminded me of St. John Vianney. I’ve been seeing him a lot lately since I’m a member of his spiritual family’s FB page and his feast day just passed.
 
I reckon you’re right… and it’s definitely a priest as you can see the stole.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top